Why does it matter if Jussie Smollett staged his own attack?

The Empire actor Jussie Smollett has been all over the media and internet after allegations that he falsely claimed that he was the victim of a hate crime. The 36-year-old is accused of filing a fake police report claiming he was the victim of a homophobic and racist assault. Police say he staged the attack because he was “dissatisfied” with his salary: Smollett maintains he’s innocent. The BBC’s North America correspondent Aleem Maqbool has been in Chicago covering this case and takes us through the timeline of events. And Zac Beauchamp, a senior correspondent with Vox covering the far right, tells us about the wider implications of this so-called hoax hate crime.Producers: Philly Beaumont and Jaja Muhammad Mixed by Weidong Lin Editor: Lucy Hancock

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Beyond Today is the daily podcast from Radio 4 that asks one big question about one big story in the news - and beyond. Tina Daheley, Matthew Price, and a team of curious producers search for answers that change the way we see the world. They speak to the BBC’s unrivalled global network of reporters, plus occasional special guests, to tell stories about identity, technology, and power - where it lies and how that is changing.